Excellent essay. Thank you. I've often wondered about the use of names in Murakami's work, and you cover it very well. On a side note. I've been reading some Somerset Maugham short stories, and noticed a 'Dolphin Hotel' in one of them. Maybe a coincidence, but Murakami has mentioned the author quite a few times in his novels. Nevertheless, it felt like I had stumbled on a Murakami Easter egg.
Not sure I would go out my way to read Maugham, but I uncovered a couple of titles at a thrift store and scooped them up. To quote 'The librarian' in Hardboiled “I like W. Somerset Maugham. He’s not spectacular but he’s very readable. I’ll rather have that, than the other way around.”
Excellent essay. Thank you. I've often wondered about the use of names in Murakami's work, and you cover it very well. On a side note. I've been reading some Somerset Maugham short stories, and noticed a 'Dolphin Hotel' in one of them. Maybe a coincidence, but Murakami has mentioned the author quite a few times in his novels. Nevertheless, it felt like I had stumbled on a Murakami Easter egg.
Interesting! I do not know Maugham's work very well and had never noticed that before. You are probably right that he borrowed the name.
Not sure I would go out my way to read Maugham, but I uncovered a couple of titles at a thrift store and scooped them up. To quote 'The librarian' in Hardboiled “I like W. Somerset Maugham. He’s not spectacular but he’s very readable. I’ll rather have that, than the other way around.”